49 research outputs found
Impact of some herbicides on the growth and the yield of common vetch (Vicia sativa L.)
Received: January 23rd, 2023 ; Accepted: April 2nd, 2023 ; Published: April 27th, 2023 ; Correspondence: [email protected] production and use of common vetch has great potential, but the lack of approved
pesticides makes the success of cultivation difficult and unpredictable. The research was carried
out on sandy soil at the NyĂregyháza Research Institute of the University of Debrecen in Hungary
in April 2022. Five different herbicides, pendimethalin, metolachlor, flumioxazin, bentazon in
doses 5 L ha-1
, 1.4 L ha-1
, 0.06 kg ha-1
, 2 L ha-1
, respectively, and imazamox in four different
doses (0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2 L ha-1
) were applied with the consideration of the ranges specified in the
Hungarian legislation. The results showed that the highest NDVI (Normalized Difference
Vegetation Index) values were obtained with flumioxazin compared to the other treatments. The
maximum harvested seed yield (194.1 kg ha-1
) was obtained with the application of flumioxazin
compared to the control treatment (132.5 kg ha-1
). Flumioxazin was also the best as it had the
fewest weeds per plot and the lowest phytotoxicity score. Although pendimethalin approached
the cleaned and harvested average seed yield of the control plots with 121.3 kg ha-1
, it did not
feature prominently in the other indicators. With regard to plant trash after cleaning of vetch seed,
the highest plant trash (179.4 kg ha-1
) was obtained with bentazon. Pendimethalin had the highest
percentage ratio between seed yield ha-1 and plant trash ha-1 (61.8%), followed by flumioxazin
(60.7%). The results also showed that there was a positive correlation between NDVI values and
seed yield and a positive correlation between NDVI values and plant trash, while there was a
negative correlation at the 0.01 level between NDVI values and phytotoxicity
Dysferlin and Myoferlin Regulate Transverse Tubule Formation and Glycerol Sensitivity
Dysferlin is a membrane-associated protein implicated in muscular dystrophy and vesicle movement and function in muscles. The precise role of dysferlin has been debated, partly because of the mild phenotype in dysferlin-null mice (Dysf). We bred Dysf mice to mice lacking myoferlin (MKO) to generate mice lacking both myoferlin and dysferlin (FER). FER animals displayed progressive muscle damage with myofiber necrosis, internalized nuclei, and, at older ages, chronic remodeling and increasing creatine kinase levels. These changes were most prominent in proximal limb and trunk muscles and were more severe than in Dysf mice. Consistently, FER animals had reduced ad libitum activity. Ultrastructural studies uncovered progressive dilation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and ectopic and misaligned transverse tubules in FER skeletal muscle. FER muscle, and Dysf- and MKO-null muscle, exuded lipid, and serum glycerol levels were elevated in FER and Dysf mice. Glycerol injection into muscle is known to induce myopathy, and glycerol exposure promotes detachment of transverse tubules from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Dysf, MKO, and FER muscles were highly susceptible to glycerol exposure in vitro, demonstrating a dysfunctional sarcotubule system, and in vivo glycerol exposure induced severe muscular dystrophy, especially in FER muscle. Together, these findings demonstrate the importance of dysferlin and myoferlin for transverse tubule function and in the genesis of muscular dystrophy
Assessing the quality of reports of randomized trials in pediatric complementary and alternative medicine
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of reports of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in the pediatric population. We also examined whether there was a change in the quality of reporting over time. METHODS: We used a systematic sample of 251 reports of RCTs that used a CAM intervention. The quality of each report was assessed using the number of CONSORT checklist items included, the frequency of unclear allocation concealment, and a 5-point quality assessment instrument. RESULTS: Nearly half (40%) of the CONSORT checklist items were included in the reports, with an increase in the number of items included. The majority (81.3%) of RCTs reported unclear allocation concealment with no significant change over time. The quality of reports achieved approximately 40% of their maximum possible total score as assessed with the Jadad scale with no change over time. Information regarding adverse events was reported in less than one quarter of the RCTs (22%) and information regarding costs was mentioned in only a minority of reports (4%). CONCLUSIONS: RCTs are an important tool for evidence based health care decisions. If these studies are to be relevant in the evaluation of CAM interventions it is important that they are conducted and reported with the highest possible standards. There is a need to redouble efforts to ensure that children and their families are participating in RCTs that are conducted and reported with minimal bias. Such studies will increase their usefulness to a board spectrum of interested stakeholders
Assessing the quality of reports of systematic reviews in pediatric complementary and alternative medicine
OBJECTIVE: To examine the quality of reports of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) systematic reviews in the pediatric population. We also examined whether there were differences in the quality of reports of a subset of CAM reviews compared to reviews using conventional interventions. METHODS: We assessed the quality of reports of 47 CAM systematic reviews and 19 reviews evaluating a conventional intervention. The quality of each report was assessed using a validated 10-point scale. RESULTS: Authors were particularly good at reporting: eligibility criteria for including primary studies, combining the primary studies for quantitative analysis appropriately, and basing their conclusions on the data included in the review. Reviewers were weak in reporting: how they avoided bias in the selection of primary studies, and how they evaluated the validity of the primary studies. Overall the reports achieved 43% (median = 3) of their maximum possible total score. The overall quality of reporting was similar for CAM reviews and conventional therapy ones. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence based health care continues to make important contributions to the well being of children. To ensure the pediatric community can maximize the potential use of these interventions, it is important to ensure that systematic reviews are conducted and reported at the highest possible quality. Such reviews will be of benefit to a broad spectrum of interested stakeholders
The superhealing MRL background improves muscular dystrophy
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mice from the MRL or “superhealing” strain have enhanced repair after acute injury to the skin, cornea, and heart. We now tested an admixture of the MRL genome and found that it altered the course of muscle pathology and cardiac function in a chronic disease model of skeletal and cardiac muscle. Mice lacking γ-sarcoglycan (<it>Sgcg</it>), a dystrophin-associated protein, develop muscular dystrophy and cardiomyopathy similar to their human counterparts with limb girdle muscular dystrophy. With disruption of the dystrophin complex, the muscle plasma membrane becomes leaky and muscles develop increased fibrosis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>MRL/MpJ mice were bred with <it>Sgcg</it> mice, and cardiac function was measured. Muscles were assessed for fibrosis and membrane leak using measurements of hydroxyproline and Evans blue dye. Quantitative trait locus mapping was conducted using single nucleotide polymorphisms distinct between the two parental strains.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Introduction of the MRL genome reduced fibrosis but did not alter membrane leak in skeletal muscle of the <it>Sgcg</it> model. The MRL genome was also associated with improved cardiac function with reversal of depressed fractional shortening and the left ventricular ejection fraction. We conducted a genome-wide analysis of genetic modifiers and found that a region on chromosome 2 was associated with cardiac, diaphragm muscle and abdominal muscle fibrosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data are consistent with a model where the MRL genome acts in a dominant manner to suppress fibrosis in this chronic disease setting of heart and muscle disease.</p
Quality of Cochrane reviews: assessment of sample from 1998
Objective: To assess the quality of Cochrane reviews.
Design: Ten methodologists affiliated with the Cochrane Collaboration independently examined, in a semistructured way, the quality of reviews first published in 1998. Each review was assessed by two people; if one of them noted any major problems, they agreed on a common assessment. Predominant types of problem were categorised.
Setting: Cyberspace collaboration coordinated from the Nordic Cochrane Centre.
Studies: All 53 reviews first published in issue 4 of the Cochrane Library in 1998.
Main outcome measure: Proportion of reviews with various types of major problem.
Results: No problems or only minor ones were found in most reviews. Major problems were identified in 15 reviews (29%). The evidence did not fully support the conclusion in nine reviews (17%), the conduct or reporting was unsatisfactory in 12 reviews (23%), and stylistic problems were identified in 12 reviews (23%). The problematic conclusions all gave too favourable a picture of the experimental intervention.
Conclusions: Cochrane reviews have previously been shown to be of higher quality and less biased on average than other systematic reviews, but
improvement is always possible. The Cochrane Collaboration has taken steps to improve editorial processes and the quality of its reviews. Meanwhile, the Cochrane Library remains a key source of evidence about the effects of healthcare interventions. Its users should interpret reviews cautiously, particularly those with conclusions favouring experimental interventions and those with many typographical errors